This offset cache starts in the parking area between the
Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Church of the
Ascension. Park at the listed coordinates. Start by finding a
parking bumper there, with a four-inch-high, four digit number.
Trust me, the number IS there, but it's very faint, and not where
you might first look. The first digit is "6" and the last digit is
"3". Now stroll along the sidewalk in front of the church. Note the
starting times of the *second* Sunday service (careful!) and Sunday
School. Note the complete name on the commemorative bell tower to
the right of the entrance, dedicated to Francis (who was
miraculously healed of blindness some years ago). Next, continue
your stroll to the far end of the sidewalk, and note the complete
name on the small commemorative wall dedicated to Rupert (a local
oysterman). Finally, continue on about a hundred feet across the
parking lot, and find the benchmark on the eastern wall corner of
the Essex pumping station building; note the benchmark's date
(freebie – also note the number; you can log this benchmark
separately). Enjoy the walk – the gardens here are gorgeous
year-round, and have that wonderful magnolia and boxwood smell so
familiar to Southerners, not to mention the perfume of countless
flowers drifting in the breeze. Now you have all the data you need.
Combine it thus:
- A) Add all the digits of the bumper number (example
1234=1+2+3+4=10).
- B) Count the number of letters (not including spaces or
punctuation) in Rupert's full name (example John F. Kennedy =
4+1+7=12).
- C) Count the number of letters (not including spaces or
punctuation) in Francis' full name.
- D) Add all the digits of the two times (example 9:30 and 11:00
would add up to 9+3+0+1+1+0+0=14).
- E) Take the benchmark year, and add all the digits (example
2005 = 7).
For the final north coordinate, combine the listing coordinate
north decimal degrees plus A thru D as follows: 699-A-B+C+D; use
this as the new north decimal degrees.
For the final west coordinate, combine the listing coordinate
west decimal degrees plus E as follows: 793-E; use this as the new
west decimal degrees.
You'll need quite a bit of stealth to find the cache. You'll be
hunting in plain sight of a very busy road and several active
businesses. Bring your own pen – this micro only has room for
a log sheet.
This cache was placed with the approval of the church's Rector,
who was happy at this opportunity for more people to enjoy the
beautiful grounds. You do NOT need to hunt thru the bushes or
plants or even leave the walkways - in fact you'll discover you can
see the container directly from at least two pathways. So as you
enjoy the gardens, please heed the Rector's wishes to respect and
preserve their beauty by sticking to the established paths.
